Ray Sommerville has joined Cox Automotive UK as non-executive director to help drive business growth across all of its brands.

Cox Automotive brands in the UK include Manheim, Motors.co.uk, NextGear Capital UK, Dealer Auction and Movex.

With more than 25 years in the sector, Sommerville was most recently chief executive at Perrys Motor Sales, where he helped to grow the dealer group over a 14-year period, more than doubling its turnover and delivering a pre-tax profit of £11 million.

He was honoured with ‘Business Leader of the Year’ accolade at the AM Awards in 2015 and after stepping down from Perrys joined the awards' judging panel this year.

On his new role with Cox Automotive UK, Sommerville said: “It is a great opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with a connected business that is uniquely positioned in providing automotive solutions right around the vehicle lifecycle.”

Picture: Then AM editor Jeremy Bennett presents the Business Leader of the Year award to Ray Sommerville, Perrys Motor Sales, with compere Louise Minchin in 2015.